I love Sienna Miller

...and her designs, too!

Édouard Vuillard

GORGEOUS

Calvin Klein does the LBD

Minimal design and maximal taste.

Michael Kors: Confidence with a side of caution

If you're looking for a daring designer, Michael Kors is not your man. His designs are not envelope pushing, avant garde, or particularly inspired. He's safe. But at his recent Spring ’11 runway show, Kors proved that airing on the side of caution isn’t always such a bad thing.

Something has to be said for those willing to show restraint during the design process. It seems as if some designers use each season as an opportunity to show off their creative genius with overly self-indulgent clothes that are impossible to wear just for the sake of it. Michael Kors', however, refreshingly does the opposite. Rather than design clothes that speak as a testament to his creative genius, he confidently controls his talent and has become on of the most successful people in the industry as a result. He makes clothes that are meant to be lived in and not just gazed upon and his recent runway show was no exception. It is a solid and cohesive collection with pieces that could fit into any wardrobe. His bold color pallet is unexpectedly versatile and all of his looks embody the American classicism that Kors is known for. With his show being one of the most praised of the season, Michael Kors proves that wearable fashion doesn’t have to be an oxymoron.

Spotted at the Spotted Pig

New York Fashion Week is in full swing and with that comes celebrity spotting. And last night at the Spotted Pig was no exception. It was there that I spied one of my current fashion favorites, Alexa Chung.

Alexa Chung is The Moment's fashion darling. Her ability to use her innate Tom Boy awkwardness to her advantage and pull off an ironically girly charm is something worthy of imitation and envy. In fact, Alexa's unexpected style juxtaposition of masculine/feminine is so inspiring that Mulberry even has an Alexa bag to honor this muse.

However, Miss Chung lends more than just her name to her collection for Madewell. Boasting high-cropped shorts and blouses that are sure to attract a lustful gaze, her designs prove that this style savant is more than just a pretty face with a quirky wardrobe and a British accent, but also a well rounded addition to the Indie style scene.

Help Wanted in the Fashion Department

Here's an old post from when I first got to the City and landed my first real job. Even though I had my dream position, I wasn't quite sure I had the clothes to match. Read on...

In true New York fashion, my life has changed more dramatically in the past three days than it has in the entire four weeks since I’ve been here. Here’s the breakdown: on Tuesday I interviewed for a job, got it on Thursday, and start on Monday. To say my life has been a whirlwind the past few days would be quite the understatement.

The transition from student to intern to professional is pretty daunting, especially when factoring in the wardrobe. Being taken seriously in your career is obviously important, but at what style-cost?

Lately I've been wondering if one must sacrifice their fashion sense in order to obtain success in the workplace. For instance, must I be forced to set aside the Vogue, put down the Shu Uemura eyelash curler, and deny all knowledge of anything having the least bit to do with fashion if I want my new colleagues at a New York City literary agency to respect me? Let’s hope not.

One thing is for sure, I know that a complete fashion makeover is out of the question. No matter how badly I want to succeed in the literary world, everything has its limits.

Luckily, there are tons of great finds out there that can let you have your fashion cake and eat it, too. For example, this Helmut Lang would be perfect for the office. The avant-garde print juxtaposes the traditional cut brilliantly, making it a piece that can easily go from work to drinks with a few extra swipes of mascara and an added clutch. And these Lanvin pumps have longevity, which completely justifies the spending splurge.

And once I’ve proven myself enough, these daring harem trousers are definitely going to have their moment. Paired with a blazer, white tank, and amazing heels, this Topshop find screams SUCCESSFUL AND CONFIDENT IN BOTH FASHION AND BUSINESS!

Office style doesn’t have to be an oxymoron, and with a little restraint and strategic shopping, I’m sure I’ll be able to keep my love for fashion without losing my job, even though I may have to leave my Vogue-reading for at home and not while I'm at my desk.

Models and Citizens

Everyone has one thing that they are especially good at. Mine is being able to spot any model or fashion celeb from a mile away. And in New York City, this special gift certainly comes in handy.

When on the look out for a model, there are a few key traits to watch for. First of all, there's the unparallel height, which will be accentuated by sky high heels that she refuses to leave home without (even at 11 AM). Secondly, she will be lazily styled in a perfect blend of urban-boho chic (a look that usually involves super short shorts and no bra). And finally, hair will look as if she has just awoke from a nap on a beach in St. Barts-impeccably disheveled and with just the right amount of sun kissed highlights.

These are the models of Manhattan. And because the fashion industry is so prevalent here, it is rare that a day goes by that you don’t witness some variation of the aforementioned type. Especially on the brink of Fashion Week.

Take yesterday, for instance. Power walking on my lunch break, determined to get out of the NY August rain as quickly as possible and seek refuge in the closest Starbucks, who should be walking towards me but Coco Rocha. She was lengthy and pin-thin (much taller and thinner in real life, if that is even possible), carrying her portfolio through the torrential downpour sans umbrella. Despite the deluge, she remained looking impossibly chic in extremely belled black jeans and a racy leopard print blouse. Her face was bare and looked flawless. Definitely an "Only in Manhattan" experience.

Jessica Stam, a favorite of most, was another model I had the privilege of seeing. However, she was by no means as camera ready as the recently wed Rocha. I spied her at Dos Toros Taqueria in the East Village with a baseball cap but without make-up. I have to admit, seeing her in real life definitely ruined the illusion of the stunning model in the Aldo ads. Her hair was not the glossy bleached coif that she boasts in the campaign, and her complexion was not the flawless porcelain that the airbrushing had produced. Instead, she was pretty much just a plain Jane with dried out hair and a sour expression.

I'd have to say that nearly every time I've brunched at the East Village's Cafe Orlin, I've spotted one choice style icon. First it was Abbey Lee, looking stunning in a barely there tank, super short shorts and a floppy wide brim hat. Then it was Lily Cole, whose skin wasn't nearly as clear as one would have thought. And most recently, Charlotte Ronson, enjoying her meal alongside her photographer brother but, sadly, no Sam in sight.

I was also lucky enough to witness Agy Deyn at the gym and short about 3 inches of hair before seeing her again a few days later marching down Irving with combat boots and (what else) overalls. I also saw model-gone-missing Gemma Ward walking around St. Mark’s and Julia Restoin Roitfeld chatting on her cell phone in Chelsea.

Maybe claiming to have an eye for models and fashion folk isn't entirely accurate. It is much more likely that I just spend way too much time patrolling style blogs and live in a city where models are just as populous as Starbucks and Duane Reade. Either way, being able to see my favorite fashion ads in real life is truly a one of my favorite things about living in the fashion capital of the world.

(Abbey Lee looking cool, me trying to look cool)